Motor-sleigh.



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- G. DOKTER. MOTOR SLEIGH. APP'LloATIoN FILED uns, 1910.

Patenteaumy 12,1910.

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l G DOKTER MOTOR SLEIGH. i APPLIOATION TILED EELS, 1910. 964,092.Patented Ju1y12,.191a

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G. DOKTER.

MOTOR SLEIGH.

\ y APPLIUATION FILED num, 1910. 964,002, l. Patented July 12,1910.

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MOTOR SLEIGH.

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if? l abbe/neng I GUY DOKTER, OF ANDOVER, SOUTH DAKOTA.

MOTOR-SLEIGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 9, 1910.

Patented July 12, 1910.

serial No. 542,994.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY DOKTER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Andover, in the county of Day and Stat-e of South Dakota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Sleighs, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in motor-propelled sleighs, andmore particularly to a device or attachment which may be used inconnection with an automobile or motor-propelled vehicle whereby themotor of the automobile may be used for propelling the sleigh and itsbody used for holding the operator, occupants and load.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich will be simple,

durable and comparatively inexpensive in construction, which will beeasy to control and operate, and to which an automobile of ordinaryconstruction may be readily applied and as readily removed without much,if any alteration in the construction of the automobile.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterfully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved motor sleigh;Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, an automobile being indicated indotted lines; Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, are detail vertical crosssectional views taken on the lines 3 3, 1- 4, 5 5, 6 6 and 7 7, in Fig.1; Figs. 8 and 9 are detail vertical longitudinal sectional views takenrespectively on lines 8 8 and 9 9 in Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a detail sectionthrough the central portion of the front axle, the fth wheel and thereach; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the upper member or plate of the fifthwheel; Fig. 12 is an edge view of the lower member or plate of the same;Fig. 13 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 13 13 in Fig.3; Fig. 14 is a detail section through a portion of the front axle andshowing the tension device for the connections which control said axle;Fig. 15 is a detail vertical section through one of the clamping deviceswhich receive the axles of the automobiles; Fig. 16 is a perspectiveview of one of the upright side plates on the frame or carrier of thepropeller wheel; Fig. 17 is a detail view showing one of the tensiondevices for the sprocket chains which actuate the propeller; and Fig. 18is a detail view showing a modified form of driving mechanism, by meansof which the invention may be connected to the power shaft of theautomobile.

My invention comprises a sleigh 1 on which is removably mounted anautomobile or other power-propelled vehicle indicated at Ain Fig. 2, aframe or carrier2containing a propeller wheel 3 and arranged in advanceof the sleigh having its rear end connected to the latter, and steeringwheels 4 adapted to support the front end of the frame or carrier 2 aswell as guide the same. The frame or carrier 2 is preferably constructedof upper and lower angle metal side bars 5, 6, united by uprights 7,diagonal braces 8 and horizontal connecting bars 9. The uprights 7 andbars 9 are preferably formed from channel metal of U-shape in crosssection and in one piece as more clearly shown in Fig. 4; and the parts7, 9, may be strengthened and united by diagonal braces 7 a formed froma single bar of metal as shown in said ligure. The forward ends of theupper side bars 5 converge inwardly and downwardly as at 10 andterminate in vertically disposed, forwardly projecting, enlargedsegmental shaped plates 11 between which latter is adjustably mounted areach bar or member 12. The forward ends of the lower side bars 6converge upwardly and inwardly as at 13 and are united to the portions10 of the bars 5, as shown in Fig. 2.

The reach 12 is preferably in the form of a channel bar or plate ofU-shape in cross section and having upstanding flanges formed adjacenttheir rear ends with transverse openings adapted to be moved intoregister with series of openings 14, 15, formed in the plates 11,whereby transverse bolts 16, 17, may be arranged in said registeringopenings to adjustably unite the reach 12 to the frame or carrier 2. Ipreferably provide four of the openings 15 and two of the openings 14,the said openings being so arranged that when the bolt 16 is inserted inthe lowermost opening 14 the bolt 17 may be inserted in either of thetwo lowermost openings 15, and likewise when said bolt 16 is inserted inthe upper opening 14 the bolt 17 may be inserted in either of the twouppermost openings 15.

The forward extremity of the reach 12 has a contracted portion 18 whichis secured by bolts 19 in a suitably shaped recess in the top of theupper plate 20 of the fifth wheel of the axle 2-1 which carries thesupporting and steering wheels 4. This fifth wheel has a lower plate 22which is secured by bolts 23 to the axle 21 and which has upon itsbottom spaced ribs 24 which receive said axle between them. A king bolt25 passes through the reach, the fifth wheel plates 20, 22, and the axle21 to pivotally unite said parts, as shown in Fig. 10. To remove thestrain from the king bolt 25 the lower plate 22 has formed on its uppersurface an annular rib 26 which is concentric with the king bolt andwhich enters an annular groove formed in the bottom face of the upperplate 20.

The wheels 4 may be of any suitable forni and construction and haveannular rims 27 provided with metal tires from which project centrallyarranged annular ribs 28 which are tapered or of V-shape in crosssection, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 1. These ribs 28enter the snow or ice over which the machine travels and preventslipping or skidding.

For the purpose of swinging the axle 21 to steer the machine I provide ascrew shaft 29 disposed to one side of the frame 2 and having at itsrear end a crank handle 30 which is arranged within reach of theoccupant of the automobile A. The shaft 29 has a threaded portionworking in a threaded opening or nut formed in the upturned rear end 31of one of the side bars 5, and the forward end of said screw shaft 29has a swivel connection 32 with a link 33. The latter is connected toone arm of a bell crank 34, the other arm of which is connected by alink 35 to one end of a diagonally arranged lever 36 fulcrumed at itscenter at 37 on the top of a U-shaped bracket 38 which is arranged in aforwardly inclined position on the top of a U-shaped cross bar 39secured between the plates 11, see Figs. 1, 7 and 9. Connected to thetwo ends of the lever or cross bar 36 are links 40 which pass throughopenings in the reach bar 12, and which are connected by chains or other{iexible connections 41 to link rods 42, the forward ends of whichlatter project through and slide in angularly arranged openings 43formed in the axle 21. 0n the forward extremities of the link rods 42are nuts 44 and cupshaped washers 45, which latter receive the forwardends of coil springs 46 arranged on the link rods 42, as shown in Figs.1 and 14. The rear ends of the coil springs 46 engage lugs 47 formed onthe axle 21 on one side of the openings 43, and said extremities of thespring also enter sockets 48 formed in the axle 21 on the opposite sideof said openings 43, see Fig. 14. It will be noted that this spring ortension device will provide a yieldable connection between the axle andthe cross bar or lever 36 so that when said lever is rocked the axle 21will be correspondingly rocked, but at the same time should anyobstruction be in the way of the wheels 4, said connections will notbreak.` It will be further noted that the lever 36 is diagonallyarranged so that moveinent of the link 35 in either direction from itsnormal position shown in Fig.1 will cause a 'corresponding movement ofthe axle 21 in either direction.

The rear ends of the up er and lower side bars 5, 6, are offset inwarcly as shown at 49 and are united by upright bars 50 formed with verticalseries of openings 51 in any one of which may be positioned a horizontaltransverse connecting rod or shaft 52. The extremities of the rod 52 arearranged in eyes 53 formed on the upturned forward ends of the runners54 of the sleigh 1, and said extremities are also screw threaded toreceive inner and outer nuts 55, 56, between which the bars 50 and eyes53 are securely clamped. Owing to the provision of the series ofopenings 51 it will be seen that the rear end of the frame 2 may besupported at any desired elevation with respect to the sleigh 1.

The sleigh 1 consists of the two runners 54, preferably made of channelmetal bars of U-shape in cross section, their channel faces turnedupwardly and both their front and rear extremities rounded as shown inFig. 2 so that the device may be propelled in either direction. The bodyportion of the sleigh 1 consists of front and rear cross bars 57, unitedby spaced longitudinal bars 58. The bars 57 have their end portionssecured between the upwardly and inwardly converging upper ends of bracebars 59, the lower ends of which latter are secured in the channels ofthe runners 54, see Fig. 1. The outer extremities of the bar 57 are alsounited to the upper ends of uprights 60, which latter also rise from therunners 54 and are disposed centrally between the braces 59. Theconnection between each upright 60 and its bar 57 is effected by atransverse bolt 61, which latter also serves to unite to said parts theforked lower end 62 of a standard 63. The four standards 63 carry attheir upper ends clamps 64 for the reception of the axles of theautomobile A, each of said clamps consisting of a stationary sleevesection 65 formed on the upper end of the standard 63, and a swingingsleeve section 66 pivoted at 67 to one side of the section 65. The otheror free end of the swinging section 66 is formed with a curved andslotted tongue 68 adapted to receive a screw stud 69 formed on thestandard 63 and to be retained thereon by a clamping nut 70 as will beunderstood on reference to Fig. 1. Owing to this construction it will beseen that an automobile of ordinary construction may be readily appliedto or removed from the sleigh 1.

rllhe propeller wheel 3 is adapted to be actuated from a rotary drivingelement 71 in the form of a combined sprocket wheel and beveled gearloosely mounted on an enlarged central portion 72 of the rod o-r shaft52 between stop collars 73, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The beveled gearof the wheel 71 meshes with a beveled pinion 74 on the forward end of alongitudinal shaft 75 journaled in suitable bearings in the front bar 57and in a cross bar 76 arranged between the longitudinal bars 58. Therear end of the shaft 75 is connected by bevel gearing 77 to atransverse shaft 78 journaled in bearings in the bars 58, and also inthe forwardly bent ends 79 of the rear bar 57. The shaft 78 may besuitably connected to the power shaft of the automobile but I preferablyemploy the driving sprocket chains of the automobile which may be passedaround sprocket wheels 90 arranged on the shaft 78 adjacent its ends.

Instead of employing the driving mechanism just described I may use theone shown in Fig. 18, which latter consists in substituting for thebevel gearing 77, meshing cog gears '91, 92, secured respectively on theshaft 75a and a parallel longitudinal shaft 93 suitably journaled asshown in said Fig. 18. One end of the shaft 93 is connected by auniversal or knuckle joint 94 to a driving shaft 95.

The propeller 3 is of cylindrical form and consists of a series of angleblades 96 spirally arranged and attached to the rims or peripheries 97of three wheel-like heads which are secured to a transverse shaft 98.The outwardly projecting flanges of the angle metal blades 96 areadapted to enter the snow or ice to prevent slipping and in order tohold the propeller down upon the snow or ice, and also to raise or lowerit out of or into contact with the same, I provide means for adjustingthe propeller vertically. This adjusting means consists of an invertedU- shaped yoke or hanger 99, the depending ends of which receive thepropeller shaft 98, as shown in Fig. 3. The central upper portion of theyoke 99 has secured to it a forked bearing 100 in the arms of which arejournaled trunnions 101 formed at opposite points on a forwardly andrearwardly extending cylindrical sleeve 102. The latter slidablyreceives the cylindrical forward end 103 of a hand `lever 104, the rearor handle end of which is arranged within convenient reach of theoccupant of the automobile. The lever 104 is fulcrumed intermediate itsends at 105 on a segmental rack 106 secured as shown in Fig. 4 to aninverted U-shaped upright frame 107 constructed of channel metal andsecured on top of the rear bar 9. The lever 104 carries the usualhand-controlled pawl which coacts with the segmental rack 106 wherebysaid lever may be retained in adjusted position to support the propellerat any desired elevation.

In order to guide the propeller in its vertical movement and prevent itfrom shifting forwardly and rearwardly in the frame 2, the ends of itsshaft 98 is rotated in slide blocks or bearings 108 arranged forvertical movement in the dovetail channeled guide bars 109, as shown inFigs. 3 and 13. The guide bars or members 109 are preferably madevertically adjustable in the side portions of the frame 2 by connectingthem by means of bolts 110 to vertical plates 111 formed with a verticalseries of openings 112 for the reception of the bolts 110. rlhe plates111 have their upper and lower ends united by bolts to the upper andlower side bars 5, 6, and their intermediate portions are united bybolts to the diagonal braces 8 so that the frame 2 will be strong anddurable. Cups for oil or other lubricant are arranged at 113 on thebearing slides 108 so that the shaft 98 will be properly lubricated. Itwill be understood that suitable oil cups may also be provided on thebearings for the various shafts, and stop collars may be provided on theshafts for preventing longitudinal movement of the same. Fixed to thepropeller shaft 98 are sprocket wheels 114l which are connected bysprocket chains 115 to sprocket wheels 116 fixed to a transverse shaft117 journaled in bearings on the rear uprights 7 and on the braces 7a,as shown in Fig. 4. Fixed to the intermediate portion of the shaft 117is a sprocket wheel 118 which is connected by a sprocket chain 119 tothe sprocket wheel of the rotary element or wheel 71, see Fig. 1. Inorder to maintain the chains 115 taut when the propeller wheel is eitherin its raised or lowered position I provide the tension devices one ofwhich is clearly shown in Fig. 17. This device comprises a iange roller120 which receives the chain 115 and is ournaled in a yoke 121 attachedto the lower end of a coil spring 122, the upper end of which isconnected to one of two inclined or angularly arranged braces 123. Thesebraces have their rear ends connected to the part 107, and their forwardends secured in the upper extremities of the channeled guide members oruprights 109, as will be understood on reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

In using the invention the automobile is mounted on the sled 1 bysecuring its axles in the clamps 64 and connecting its power shaft tothe longitudinal shaft of a sled either as indicated in Fig. 1 or inFig. 18. 'Ihe occupant or operator of the automobile may then operatethe power-controlling mechanism of the automobile so that power will beapplied to the propeller 3 for the purpose of moving the device ineither a forward or rearward direction and at any desired speed. Byadjusting the lever 104 the effectiveness of the propeller 8 may bevaried and if desired it may be raised entirely off of the snow or ice.By rotating the screw shaft 29 the front axle 21 may be turned to causethe wheels et to steer the device in any desired direction. It will benoted that by reason of the adjustable connections between the front endof the frame 2 and the reach 12 and the adjustable connection betweenthe rear end of the frame 2 and the sled l, said frame 2 may bepositioned at any desired elevation so that machines will meet theconditions of roads, whether smooth or filled with ruts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides anexceedingly simple, strong and durable device which will permit anautomobile or motor-vehicle to be effectively used on snow and ice, andthat owing to the peculiar construction the automobile may be readilyapplied to and removed from the device without altering the constructionof the former.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it will be understood that I do not wish to belimited to the precise construction set forth, since various changes inthe form, proportion and arrangement of parts, and in the details ofconstruction, may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. The combination of a sleigh having a body supported by spacedrunners, means on said sleigh body to receive the axles of a motorvehicle and support the same, a frame arranged in advance of the sleighand having its rear end supported by the latter, a reach at the frontend of the frame, a front axle pivoted to said reach, supporting andsteering wheels on said axle, a steering mechanism for said wheelsmounted on the frame and having an actuating element within reach of theoperator of the motor vehicle, a propeller in said frame, means fo-rraising and lowering said propeller, the last mentioned means beingunder the control of the motor vehicle, and gearing for driving saidpropeller arranged in the frame and in the body portion of the sleighand adapted to be driven from the power mechanism of the motor vehicle.

2. The combination of a sleigh, means for supporting' a motor vehicle onsaid sleigh, Oearing arranged on the sleigh and driven 2from the powermechanism of said motor vehicle, a frame arranged in advance of thesleigh and having its rear end supported by the latter, steering wheelsfor supporting the front end of said frame, a steering mechanism forcontrolling said wheels arranged on the frame and having an actuatedelement within reach of the operator of the motor vehicle, a propellerarranged in said frame, means for actuating said propeller, the lastmentioned means being within control of the operator of the motorvehicle, and gearing arranged in said frame and driven by the gearing onsaid sleigh for rotating said propeller.

3. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a longitudinal shaft journaled in the sleigh and adaptedto be driven from the power mechanism of the motor-vehicle, a transverserod at one end of the sleigh, a rotary element on said rod and drivenfrom said longitudinal shaft, a frame having one end supported from saidrod, a supporting and steering device for the other end of said frame, apropeller in said frame, and means for imparting the rotary movement ofsaid element to said propeller.

4. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame having one end supported by said sleigh, apropeller in said frame and actuated from the power mechanism of themotor vehicle, a reach angularly adjustable in the vertical plane at theother end of said frame, an axle pivoted to said reach, supporting andsteering wheels on said axle, and means for controlling said axle.

5. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame, and means for vertically adjusting the rear endof said frame on one end of the sleigh, a supporting and steering devicefor the front end of the frame, and a propeller in said frame andactuated from the power mechanism of the motor-vehicle.

6. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a

front axle carrying supporting and steering wheels, a reach onsaid frontaxle, a frame vertically adjustable between the reach and one end ofsaid sleigh, and a propeller in said frame and actuated from the powermechanism of the motor-vehicle.

7. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame connected at one end to the sleigh, a steeringdevice for the other end of the frame, a propeller in said frame andactuated from the power mechanism of the motor-vehicle, and means forraising and lowering said propeller in said frame.

8. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame connected at one end to the sleigh, a steeringdevice for the other end of the frame, a propeller wheel in said frame,vertically slidable bearings for the shaft of said propeller wheel,guides on said frame for said bearings, a yoke suspending the shaft ofthe propeller wheel, a bifurcated bracket on said yoke, a sleeve havingtrunnions rotatable in the arms of said bifurcated bracket, a leverhaving one end slidable in said sleeve, a locking means for said lever,and means for actuating the propeller shaft from the power mechanism ofthe motor-vehicle.

9. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame arranged in advance of the sleigh and having itsrear end supported by the latter, a pivoted axle at the front end of theframe, supporting and steering wheels on said axle, a propeller in saidframe actuated from the power mechanism of the motor-vehicle, adiagonally arranged lever pivoted at its center along the forwardportion of the frame, operative connections between the vends of saidlever and the end portions of the axle, a bell crank on the frame andhaving one arm connected to one end of said lever, and means foractuating the other arm of said bell crank. i

10. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame arranged in advance of the sleigh and having itsrear end supported by the latter, a pivoted axle at the front end of theframe, supporting and steering wheels on said axle, a propeller in saidframe actuated from the power mechanism of the motor-vehicle, adiagonally arranged lever pivoted at its center along the forwardportion of the frame, operative connections between the ends of saidlever and the end portions of the axle, a bell crank on the frame andhaving one arm connected to one end of said lever, a screw shaft mountedon the frame, and a link connected at one end to the other arm of thebell crank and having its other arm swiveled to one end of said screwshaft.

l1. The combination of a sleigh, means thereon for supporting amotor-vehicle, a frame arranged in advance of the sleigh and having itsrear end supported by the latter, a pivoted axle at the front end of theframe, supporting and steering wheels on said axle, a propeller in saidframe actuated from the power mechanism of the motor-vehicle, adiagonally arranged lever pivoted at its center along the forwardportion of the frame, operative connections between the ends of saidlever and the end portions of the axle, cushioning or tension devicesincluded in said connections, a bell crank on the frame, a linkconnecting one arm of the bell crank to one arm of the lever, and meansfor actuating the other arm of the bell crank.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GUY DOKTER. Witnesses:

J. VANDER MEIDE,

OSCAR BELDEN.

